7 In 10 Urban Indians Feel Wedding Spending Is Excessive: Survey

At least 7 in 10 urban Indians believe that we spend too much on weddings, according to a recent survey.

The survey titled Ipsos IndiaBus Views on Wedding, also revealed that more number of men polled (75 per cent) held this view vis-à-vis women (72 per cent). Moreover, citizens residing in the metros (80 per cent), tier1 towns (75 per cent), east zone (78 per cent), south zone (75 per cent) and north zone (74 per cent) and 91 per cent of Others (comprising of retired, military and those who preferred not to answer) too felt we tend to expend a lot during weddings. 

Is it important to have a big budget, opulent wedding in India? 
Surprisingly, we received mixed views from the urban citizens. Interestingly, 4 in 10 (43 per cent) citizens endorsed big fat weddings, believing them to be a part of our tradition and celebration; 36 per cent felt big budget weddings are somewhat important as they have a cultural significance, but not essential; while 2 in 10 (21 per cent) of citizens polled, perceived big budget weddings to be unimportant, unnecessary and wasteful. 73 per cent of citizens in east zone endorsed big, fat weddings believing it to be a significant part of our tradition and celebration. And 49 per cent citizens in south zone somewhat supported a grand wedding as it is intrinsic to our culture, at the same time they felt it was not essential or compulsory. 

Rationale for hosting opulent weddings?
Citizens had varied perceptions on why we spend so much during weddings: 43 per cent believed due to the tradition and cultural values; 29 per cent felt for showcasing wealth and status; 12 per cent said due to social pressure and expectations;  11 per cent felt maybe due to the innate desire for creating a lifetime memorable experience; and 5 per cent felt it was the influence of social media and celebrity culture that was making citizens dole out big budgets during weddings (to copy them). Citizens in east zone (72 per cent) and tier 3 (62 per cent) felt it was important to spend more monies during wedding as it was a part of our tradition and cultural values. These towns are also steeped in traditions and tend to adhere to societal norms. Though for 40 per cent citizens in north zone, 39 per cent in south zone and 38 per cent in tier2 cities, the predominant view was that big budget weddings were more for the display of wealth and status. 

Delving deeper into the big fat wedding culture, the survey tried to unearth whether a big budget wedding equals a successful marriage? We found the views were quite divided, with 45 per cent disagreeing, 27 per cent agreeing to a large extent, 27 per cent agreeing to some extent. Differences in views were quite glaring. Those disagreeing most were largely from tier 2 towns (55 per cent), north zone (55 per cent), metros (53 per cent) and the unemployed (61 per cent). And those agreeing most were from the east zone (78 per cent) and tier 3 towns (67 per cent), men (55 per cent) and women (54 per cent). 

We also probed if it was considered financially responsible, to spend a large portion of one’s lifetime savings on a wedding? 

The views were divided. 32 per cent agreed, believing, it is once in a lifetime event and worth the investment; 27 per cent disagreed believing there were better ways to allocate savings for the future; 21 per cent were unsure; while 19 per cent felt it depended on the individual’s financial status.  East zone was seen to be more about display – 65 per cent felt it was once in a lifetime event and worth the investment. While 48 per cent in south zone were unsure. 

Wedding finances - best approach  
Weddings in India are rarely solemnized over a small ceremony, with a handful of close relatives – that happened only during the covid19 pandemic and we for the first time witnessed most relatives and friends joining virtually. Weddings in India are largely an elaborate affair with ceremonies, traditions being followed, and the invitee list expanded to include family, relatives, friends. Which means one needs to fork out large sums of monies to cater to requirements of all ceremonies and meals and decorations, venue hiring etc. What are the best approaches to financing a wedding?   

The respondents chose multiple options instead of just one. 56 per cent advocated equal sharing of costs between the bride and the groom for wedding finances; at the same 52 per cent of the respondents were of the view that wedding cost should not put undue pressure; and 13 per cent recommended taking a loan or selling of investments for financing a wedding. 

Views by cities and cohorts were quite interesting. West zone (72 per cent), east zone (66 per cent), people living in the metros (65 per cent), full time parents/ homemakers (62 per cent), students (61 per cent), SEC A (61 per cent), employed full time or part time (60 per cent) were all of the view that wedding costs should be shared equally between the bride and the groom; While 69 per cent self-employed, 65 per cent in tier 3 cities, 58 per cent in north zone, 57 per cent in south zone and 54 per cent in east zone were of the view that wedding cost should not put undue pressure.    

Summarising the findings of the survey, Parijat Chakraborty, Group Service Line Leader, Public Affairs, Corporate Reputation, ESG and CSR said, "It is the onset of the wedding season in India and we decided to understand views of citizens across socio economic classification and town classes on their perceptions of weddings. Do we spend too much on weddings, the rationale of opulent weddings, whether big budget weddings translate into successful marriages, best approach to funding weddings, et al. There were so many different views around the topic across demographics and regions. Grandiose weddings are intrinsic to our culture and these are happy occasions for the family to bond, soak up the complete happy ecosystem, when people dress up and celebrate. But all this costs a bomb and it is interesting to see that citizens have broad views about sharing of costs between the bride and the groom and even believe that a happy occasion like a wedding should not be a high pressure situation."